Bead History

We have a poster in the shop called The History of Beads.  It provides a visual story, showing the types of beads being made and traded during various time periods and in various geographical regions.

Perhaps it's seeing Laurel re-organizing the African table that got me thinking about the truly international love and use of beads, and I found myself dipping into a couple of books we have about bead history.

What's really amazing about beads is how they've traveled.  Many of the "African" beads we see and think of as "African" are European in origin.  These millefiori beads were typical of Venetian beads traded throughout Europe, Africa and Asia.  But nothing stays secret for long; beadmakers in India are also known for their millefiori beads.  

Millefiori beads.

Beads that are made in Africa include "sand cast" beads, generally a bit rough and "sandy" looking.  The process has nothing to do with sand, as they're made using a technique called powder-glass beadmaking, where glass is crushed very fine and heated so the particles fuse together.

"Sand Cast" beads from Africa, probably from Ghana.

More sand cast beads

It is difficult to dis-entangle the threads that connect countries, tribes, continents and changing power structures that occur over time when reading about this history.  Our definition of a bead (if it has a hole in it, it's a bead) has existed for thousands of years.  Spiritual attributes are often attributed to certain materials or designs.  A group of people moves from one place to another and their art merges with the new culture.  Things change.  Things stay the same.  With beads, it's all good.

Batik bone and bottle glass disc bracelet

Bracelet with African brass, amber, millefiori, horn and stone strung on waxed linen